Vacuum Cleaner Quiz

When it comes to getting the floor clean, the art of dust, dirt and pet hair removal has come a long way. From the days of muscular carpet beaters who whacked hanging carpets clean with bats, to the latest robotic vacuums that seek out dust bunnies using complex algorithms, the war on dirt and dust has never been an easy one. Grab your favorite vacuum attachment and follow us on magic carpet ride to separate fact from fiction when it comes to the most upright (or canister), true-blue and hardworking cleaning accessory in your home, the vacuum cleaner.

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Question 1 of 20

Currently, what's the most popular style of vacuum cleaner on the market?

Robotic

Upright

According to Consumer Reports, the most popular vacuum cleaner style sold in the U.S. is the upright vacuum.

Canister

Question 2 of 20

Although stick vacuum cleaners and cordless sweepers can both be convenient for light cleaning, what one big advantage does a sweeper have over a stick vac?

They're more lightweight.

They're quieter.

Although price and weight will vary for both cordless stick vacuums and cordless sweepers, sweepers are usually quieter. If you want to vacuum up that spilled cereal but don’t want to wake the baby, grab the cordless sweeper.

They're a lot less expensive.

Question 3 of 20

Robotic vacuums can be convenient because you don't have to be in the room (or even in the house) when they're operating. In tests conducted by Consumer Reports, what was the biggest weakness in the way robotic vacuums clean carpet?

They fray carpet fibers.

They're less effective than more conventional vacuums at getting into corners and along walls.

Although robotic vacuums are good at getting under furniture, they're less effective at getting into corners and along walls. Consumer Reports also notes that they can take up to an hour or more to clean a 10-foot x 16-foot room.

They have trouble cleaning a conventional living or dining area without recharging.

Question 4 of 20

What's the biggest difference between a cordless stick vacuum and a cordless sweeper?

The stick vac is more expensive than a cordless sweeper.

A stick vac uses suction while a sweeper utilizes a rotating brush.

Sweepers employ rotating brushes instead of suction to scoot dirt and debris off carpet, tile and other types of flooring.

A stick vac has a disposable bag instead of a reusable cup or other dirt receptacle.

Question 5 of 20

What's the biggest disadvantage of using an upright vacuum cleaner?

Cost

Portability and maneuverability

When comparing an upright to a canister vacuum, an upright is typically very good at deep cleaning but can be hard to maneuver under furniture or use on stairs, which makes it less portable and maneuverable than a canister vacuum.

Longevity

Question 6 of 20

What are two big determiners of how easy a vacuum will be to use on a regular basis?

Weight and pushing force

Weight and pushing force are big considerations when buying a vacuum. Pushing force is the amount of effort it takes to move the vacuum around. Pushing force can vary by as much as 2.1 to almost 11 pounds of pressure. If you have stairs, having to carry a heavy vacuum up and down can get old after a while, too, and some features like water filters and onboard attachments can really add to a vacuum cleaner's weight.

Cord length and number of attachments

Motor size and wheel diameter

Question 7 of 20

Some vacuums come equipped with filters designed to trap particulates that would otherwise vent back into the room through the machine's exhaust. A common filter standard is HEPA. What does the acronym HEPA stand for?

High-efficiency purification amplifier

High-efficiency particulate air

That would be high-efficiency particulate air. Although there's more than one type of HEPA filter as distinguished by identification on the filter itself, the HEPA A (the most powerful filtering), will trap at least 99.97 percent of particulates .3 microns or larger.

High-emissions power actuator

Question 8 of 20

What's one of the biggest advantages of using a vacuum cleaner with a bag over a bagless vacuum?

It's easy to get shocked by static electricity buildup when emptying a bagless vacuum.

Emptying the cup or holding bin in a bagless vacuum can release dirt back into the air.

Although using a bagless vacuum sounds like a great way to control cleaning costs , when the time comes to empty a bagless vacuum's dirt cup, it's easy to accidentally release a cloud of dust and dirt back into the air.

Bagless vacuums aren't as sturdy as standard vacuum cleaners.

Question 9 of 20

When reading the specifications on a vacuum, you'll sometimes see the term "attachment reach." What does that mean, anyway?

The length of the cord

The combined length of the suction hose and attachments

Attachment reach is the combined length of the suction hose and the various attachments.

The width of the beater bar

Question 10 of 20

Some vacuum cleaners can get pretty noisy, and a few have been tested at 89 decibels, which is loud enough to cause hearing loss if you aren't wearing ear protection. Of the standard vacuum varieties, which is typically quieter?

An upright vacuum

A canister vacuum

Although the noise level will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer and model to model, canisters are typically quieter than uprights. To make sure you don't have to wear ear plugs to use your next vacuum, check the latest independent reviews to see which vacuums do the best job and are easy on the ears, too.

Neither

Question 11 of 20

If your vacuum cleaner has a retractable power cord, you'll spend less time winding, unwinding, uncoiling, detangling and unkinking it. On what type of vacuum are you most likely to find this feature?

An upright vacuum

A canister vacuum

A canister vacuum is more likely to have a retractable cord, although uprights often have cord release clips that will dump all the manually wound coils at once.

It's a feature widely available in both.

Question 12 of 20

Where's the most convenient spot for a vacuum's on-off switch?

Near the beater bar

On the handle

It's easier to turn a vacuum off quickly when the switch is in the handle. If you accidentally grab a corner of the table cloth and it looks like an avalanche is imminent, having your finger close to the kill switch could save dinner and your reputation. Running a close second is an off switch you can trip with your foot.

On the body

Question 13 of 20

What's one of the most convenient features to look for in a vacuum if you have wall-to-wall carpeting?

A headlight

An edge cleaner

That would be an edge cleaner, a cleaning head with suction along its entire length to allow easy access to tight corners and along walls.

Suction control

Question 14 of 20

Self-propelled vacuums are easy to push and maneuver around corners, but you may be sacrificing something important. What?

Suction

A lightweight unit

Self-propelled vacuums are often heavier than standard vacuums. If you have stairs, easy maneuverability may not be worth the extra weight.

A wide beater brush

Question 15 of 20

Where vacuums are concerned, one size does not fit all. What do the experts recommend you do if you're thinking about buying a new vacuum.

Ask friends and family.

Take one for a test run in the retailer's showroom.

Weight, pushing force and the location of the on-off switch will all probably have an impact on how comfortable you feel using a new vacuum. The best way to get a sense of what works for you is to acutally use the vacuum in the retailer's showroom. Many have a section of carpet and hardwood flooring in place for just this purpose.

Rent before you buy.

Question 16 of 20

When was the first vacuum cleaner patented in the United States?

1790

1860

That would be in 1860 when Daniel Hess of West Union, Iowa filed a patent for his carpet sweeper. It used a bellows mechanism and employed a rotating brush.

1900

Question 17 of 20

According to Consumer Reports, the noise level of some vacuum cleaners can reach 89 decibels. At what decibel level will you typically start to risk hearing loss?

50 decibels

85 decibels

That would be 85 decibels.

75 decibels

Question 18 of 20

Canister vacuum technology is beginning to rival that of uprights. Where do canisters really show their stuff?

They're lightweight, powerful, maneuverable

They're lightweight, powerful, maneuverable and many are pretty good at getting under furniture, too.

They're powerful, reliable and the replacement bags are inexpensive.

They have great attachment reach and use less energy than uprights.

Question 19 of 20

Using a vacuum with good suction helps get dirt and pet hair out of carpet and also helps keep these two invaders under better control.

Fleas and ticks

Mold and dust mites

That would be mold and dust mites, which can shorten the life of carpeting, cause health problems and negatively impact air quality.

Grease and dust (air pollution)

Question 20 of 20

When you're using a cordless vacuum, what should you do to protect the battery?

Remove the battery occasionally and let it cure at room temperature.

Recharge the battery after each use.

Run the battery down periodically.

Check the instructions on your make and model of cordless vacuum cleaner for the final word, but some batteries should be completely depleted and recharged on a regular basis.